Version 3, December 2017

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Application Note - SolarEdge Inverters, Power Control

Options

Version History

Version 3 (December 2017)

Added Active Power ramp up option

Added new active power phase balancing feature

Version 2 (November 2017)

Added Demand Response Enabling Device (DRED) connectivity option

Clarified correct cosphi(p) setting

Removed Active Power phase balance option

Removed country defaults list

New appendix with explanation of cosphi

Version 1 (December 2012)

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Installation Note for Three Phase Inverters ..................................................................................................................... 2 The Power Control Menu................................................................................................................................................. 2

Energy Manager ....................................................................................................................................................... 2 RRCR Conf. ............................................................................................................................................................... 2 Reactive Power Conf. ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Active Power Conf. .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Phase Balancing ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Wakeup Conf. .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 Advanced ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Load Defaults ........................................................................................................................................................... 8

Power Control Hierarchy ................................................................................................................................................. 8 Reactive Power Control ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Active Power Control ............................................................................................................................................... 8

The Power Control Status Window .................................................................................................................................. 8 Appendix A – Q Configuration ....................................................................................................................................... 10

Example ................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Appendix B – How to Identify the Inverter’s CPU Version ............................................................................................. 12 Appendix C – CosPhi Calculation.................................................................................................................................... 13

Introduction

To improve grid stability, many electric utilities are introducing advanced grid limitations, requiring control of the

active and reactive power of the inverter by various mechanisms.

All SolarEdge inverters with CPU version 2.337 and later support these requirements. These inverters include default

settings per country, based on the specific requirements in that country, as well as the ability to configure these

settings (settings may have to be configured according to installation size or utility requirements).

This document details the available power control configuration options in the SolarEdge inverters, and explains how

to adjust these settings if such changes are required.

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Installation Note for Three Phase Inverters

If power control is enabled, the order of grid lines connection to the inverter is important. A 120deg phase difference

between L1 to L2 and between L2 to L3 should be kept (L1-L2-L3 and not, for example L1-L3-L2). If the grid lines are

not in this order, the following error will be displayed on the LCD and the inverter will not produce power.

E R R O R 1 1 2

W r o n g A C C o n n e c t i o n

The Power Control Menu

The Power Control menu is accessible from the inverter LCD main menu. Refer to the “Inverter User Interface”

chapter in the SolarEdge installation guide for LCD navigation instructions.

The Power Control menu includes the following options:

G r i d C o n t r o l < E n >

E n e r g y M a n a g e r

R R C R C o n f . < E n >

R e a c t i v e P w r C o n f

A c t i v e P w r C o n f

W a k e u p C o n f

P ( f )

A d v a n c e d

L o a d D e f a u l t s

Grid Control is enabled for Germany and Germany MVGC country settings.

The sections below describe the functionality and configuration of each of these menu options.

Energy Manager

Functionality

SolarEdge offers the Smart Energy Management solution for increasing the self-consumption of a site. One method

used for this purpose is limiting the feed-in power: The inverter dynamically adjusts the PV power production in

order to ensure that feed-in power does not exceed a preconfigured limit. To enable this functionality, an energy

meter that measures feed-in or consumption must be installed at the site.

For details on how to use the Feed-in Limitation feature, refer to the Feed-in Limitation application note at

https://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/feed-in_limitation_application_note.pdf.

RRCR Conf.

Functionality

SolarEdge inverters can connect to an external device which can control active and reactive power according to

commands sent by the grid operator (examples, RRCR – Radio Ripple Control Receiver, DRED – Demand Response

Enabling Device).

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The RRCR menu includes the following options:

R R C R < D i s >

S e t V a l u e s

> 0 0 0 0 - - - , - - - , N

0 0 0 1 0 , 1 . 0 0 , Y

0 0 1 0 3 0 , 1 . 0 0 , Y

0 0 1 1 - - - , - - - , N

0 1 0 0 6 0 , 1 . 0 0 , Y

0 1 0 1 - - - , , N

0 1 1 0 - - - , , N

0 1 1 1 - - - , , N

1 0 0 0 1 0 0 , 1 . 0 0 , Y

1 0 0 1 - - - , - - - , N

1 0 1 0 - - - , - - - , N

1 0 1 1 - - - , - - - , N

1 1 0 0 - - - , - - - , N

1 1 0 1 - - - , - - - , N

1 1 1 0 - - - , - - - , N

1 1 1 1 - - - , - - - , N

Use the RRCR Conf. menu to enable this control and to configure up to 16 control states. Each control state is a

combination of the following three fields:

AC output power limit – limits the inverter’s output power to a certain percentage of its rated power with the

range of 0 to 100 (% of nominal active power).

CosPhi – sets the ratio of active to reactive power. The Reactive Power Conf. Mode must be set to RRCR when

using this control mode. The CosPhi range is from 0.8 leading to 0.8 lagging (a negative value indicates a lagging

CosPhi). For further information, see Appendix C – CosPhi Calculation.

Enable/Disable – enables or disables control according to the specific state.

To enable/disable RRCR control:

Select RRCR Choose Enable or Disable Press Enter

In addition to enabling this option, the inverter must be connected to a power reduction device.

For RRCR connectivity, refer to the Power Reduction Control application note for details:

http://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/power-reduction-control-application-note.pdf.

For DRED connection in Australia, refer to the application note, Connecting a Demand Response Enabling Device

(DRED) to a SolarEdge Inverter: https://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/dred-connection-application-

note.pdf.

To enable/disable any of the 16 states:

When you select a disabled state, only one line is displayed. After you enable it, three lines are displayed: enable

<yes>, pwr reduce and cosphi.

Select Set Values Scroll to the relevant state Press Enter Select Enable Choose Yes or No Press Enter

Now you can select either cosphi or power reduce and set their value.

To set the values of an enabled state:

Select Set Values Scroll to the relevant state Press Enter Scroll to the relevant value Input the required

setting Press Enter

When setting CosPhi values, use the minus symbol (-) for a lagging value.

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Reactive Power Conf.

Functionality

The Reactive Power menu includes the following options:

> M o d e < C o s P h i >

C o s P h i < 1 . 0 0 >

C o s P h i ( P )

Q < 0 >

Q < U >

Q < P >

U n o m < 2 3 0 >

Mode:

> C o s P h i

C o s P h i ( P )

Q

Q ( U ) + Q ( P )

R R C R

Use the Reactive Power menu to select one of several reactive power control modes listed below, and to configure

the various modes:

CosPhi – sets a constant CosPhi, regardless of other parameters. Range: from 0.8 leading to 0.8 lagging (a

negative value indicates a lagging CosPhi).

CosPhi(P) – sets a graph of CosPhi to active power (P). CosPhi(P) has a 6-point graph setup. P can be set to any

value between 0 and 100 [% of nominal active power], and should increase from P(0) to P(5). CosPhi can be set

to any value between “0.8 leading” and “0.8 lagging” (a negative value indicates a lagging CosPhi). Each point

includes the following fields: < % of nominal active power, CosPhi >.

Q – sets constant reactive power (Q).

Range: -100 to 100 (% of nominal reactive power. A negative value indicates a lagging reactive power).

Q(U)+Q(P) – sets a graph of reactive power (Q) to grid voltage (U) and to active power (P); this mode can be

used when Q(U) control is required, by setting Q(P) to zero, and vice versa. Q(U) and Q(P) have 6-point graph

setups. Refer to Appendix A – Q Configuration on page 10 for additional configuration instructions.

U: 0 to 200 [% of nominal voltage].

P: 0 to 100 [% of nominal active power]

RRCR – enables CosPhi control through the RRCR. RRCR must be enabled, as described above, when using this

control mode.

Unom - The Reactive Power menu is also used to set Unom, a reference grid voltage, when required for

installation testing. Range: 0 to 500 [V].

Configuration Options

To select a reactive power control-mode:

Enter the Mode menu Scroll to the required mode Press Enter

To set the values of a reactive power control-mode:

Scroll to the relevant mode Press Enter Input the required setting Press Enter

When setting CosPhi or Q values, use the minus symbol (–) for a lagging value.

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Active Power Conf.

Functionality

The Active Power menu includes the following options:

P o w e r L i m i t < 1 0 0 % >

C u r r e n t L i m < 1 5 . 7 A >

W a k e u p G r a d < E n >

G r a d T i m e < x x x x s >

P ( f )

P ( V )

R a m p R a t e < % / s e c >

Use the Active Power menu to control the inverter active power:

Power Limit - limits the inverter maximum output power. The power limit can be set to any value between 0-

100 [% of nominal active power].

Current Lim – Current Limit: limits the inverter’s maximum output current (available from inverter CPU version

2.549). The current limit can be set to any value between 0 and the inverter’s max AC current [A] (the LCD will

allow setting to a higher value but the inverter will never exceed its maximum AC current).

Wakeup Grad – Wakeup Gradient: enables gradual power production when it begins operation after a fault or

an inverter reset. For gradual power production during normal operation, use the Ramp Rate option.

Grad Time – Gradient Time: The wakeup time setting. This line is displayed only if the Wakeup Gradient is

enabled. Can be set to any value between 1 and 9999 seconds.

P(f) – Power Frequency: This is used when frequency-based power reduction is required. This defines a linear

graph set by two points. The inverter de-rates power according to the defined graph, until the frequency

reaches the trip value and the inverter disconnects (the trip point is preset per country therefore does not need

to be defined as one of the two points).

P(V) – Power Voltage: This is used when voltage-based power reduction is required. This defines a linear graph

set by six points (available from inverter CPU version 3.1808). The inverter de-rates power according to the

defined graph, until the voltage reaches the trip value and the inverter disconnects.

Ramp Rate: enables gradual power production during normal operation (available from inverter CPU version

3.22xx). Can be set to any value between 0-100%/sec with 0.1% resolution. Ramp rate of 0 means production

increase is immediate.

Configuration Options

To change the power or current limit:

Select Power Limit or Current Lim Press Enter Input the required setting Press Enter

To set gradual power production:

1 Select Wakeup Gradient Select Enable Press Enter

2 Select Grad Time Press Enter Input the required setting Press Enter

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To set P(f) and change the P or f values:

Each point includes the following fields: <frequency, % of nominal active power>.

P 0 < 5 0 . 2 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 1 < 5 1 . 2 0 , 6 0 . 0 0 >

The ranges for P(f) parameters are:

Frequency: 0 to 100 [Hz]

P: 0 to 100 [% of nominal active power].

When changing values, scroll to the relevant point Press Enter Input the required value Press Enter

To set P(V) and change the P or f values:

Each point includes the following fields: <voltage, % of nominal active power>.

S e t P o i n t

< V , P % >

The ranges for P(V) parameters are:

Voltage: 0 to 200 [% of 230V].

P: 0 to 100 [% of nominal active power].

P 0 < 2 0 0 . 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 1 < 1 0 0 . 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 2 < 1 0 0 . 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 3 < 1 2 0 . 4 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 4 < 1 0 0 . 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

P 5 < 1 0 0 . 0 , 1 0 0 . 0 >

When changing values, scroll to the relevant point Press Enter Input the required value Press Enter

To set a ramp rate:

1 Select : PowerControl Active Pwr Conf. Ramp Rate Input the required settings Press Enter

Resolution 0.1%

Range 0-100%/sec

0 = disable (transition is immediate)

Phase Balancing

Functionality

The phase balancing feature is used to connect up to 3 single phase inverters to a three phase grid in cases where

phase balancing is required by the utility.

Supported by inverters with a maximum 21.7A AC output current

Supported from inverter CPU version 3.22xx.

When phase balancing is enabled, if any inverter in the system disconnects, the other inverters disconnect within 2

seconds. Disconnect occurs under the following conditions:

Loss of communications between any of the inverters

Grid protection trip

Inverter receives a zero-production command from an external device

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In the event of a communications loss, the following message is displayed:

P h a s e B a l a n c e r

c o m m u n i c a t i o n e r r o r

In the event of a grid protection trip or zero-production command, the following message is displayed:

P h a s e B a l a n c e r

i m b a l a n c e p r o t e c t i o n

Configuration Options

NOTE:

The configuration must be performed on all inverters.

NOTE:

In addition to enabling this option, the inverters must be connected on an RS485 bus.

To enable/disable phase balancing:

1 Select Power Control Grid Control: Enable

2 Select Power Control Phase Balance: Enable

3 Select Connection: RS485

Wakeup Conf.

Functionality

The Wakeup menu includes the following options:

M i n W a k e u p F r e q .

M a x W a k e u p F r e q .

M i n W a k e u p V g r i d

M a x W a k e u p V g r i d .

Use the Wakeup menu to set the minimum and maximum grid frequencies and grid voltages between which the

inverter can begin power production. This menu does not set the inverter disconnection values, which are pre-set

per country.

The ranges for Wakeup parameters are:

Frequency: 0 to 100 [Hz]

Voltage 0 to 500 [V]

Configuration Options

To change the frequency or voltage values:

Scroll to the relevant setting Press Enter Input the required value Press Enter

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Advanced

Functionality

Use the Advanced menu to configure the K-Factor for the BDEW-MVGC certification in Germany. It is set to a default

value of 2.

The range for the FRT-K parameter is 0 to 16.

Configuration Options

To enable/disable FRT-K:

Select Set FRT Select Enable or Disable Press Enter

To change the value after enabling the K-Factor:

Select FRT-K Input the required value Press Enter

Load Defaults

Use the Load Defaults menu to restore the default Power Control settings of the country to which the inverter is set,

according to the settings detailed below. The only parameter that is not reset when using the Load Defaults option is

Active Power Conf. Power Limit.

Power Control Hierarchy

Reactive Power Control

The following describe reactive power control conditions:

If RRCR is disabled, and “Reactive Pwr. Conf Mode” is not set to RRCR, the RRCR points will be ignored.

If RRCR is enabled, and “Reactive Pwr. Conf Mode” is set to RRCR, the RRCR points will control active power

and reactive power.

If RRCR is enabled, and “Reactive Pwr. Conf Mode” is not set to RRCR, the RRCR points will control only

active power, and reactive power will be controlled by the selected mode.

Active Power Control

The following modes can control the active output power of the inverter:

RRCR

Power Limit <%>

Current Limit <A>

Wakeup Gradient

P(f)

P(V)

If several control modes are active, the output power of the inverter will be the minimum power. For example, if an

RRCR point is configured to “Pwr Reduce=60%” and “Active Power Conf. Power Limit=70%”, the output power

will be limited to 60% of Pnom.

The Power Control Status Window

Short-press the external LCD button at the bottom of the inverter until the following screen appears:

P W R C T R L : R E M O T E

P W R L i m i t : 1 0 . 0 4 k W

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C o s P h i : 0 . 9

P o w e r P r o d : 7 0 0 0 W

PWR CTRL: The power control status:

REMOTE - Communication with the smart energy manager is confirmed/validated or the

inverter power is controlled by an RRCR device.

LOCAL - The power is controlled locally (e.g. by a fixed limit), or this inverter limits the PV

power production to its relative portion of the feed-in power limit, as a result of

disconnected communication with the smart energy manager. If this status appears,

check the communication to the smart energy manager or the communication to the

meter.

PWR Limit: The inverter maximum output power set by the smart energy manager

Cos Phi: The ratio between active to reactive power

Power Prod: The power produced by the inverter

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Appendix A – Q Configuration

If the utility requires Q(U) control of the inverter, it will typically provide a linear graph including Umin, Umax,

Q(Umin) and Q(Umax) values.

If the utility requires Q(U)+Q(P) control of the inverter, it will typically provide a linear Q(U) graph for P=0 and for

P=Pnom.

NOTE:

Q controls are also for 1ph with Digital J.

To translate this graph into values to be configured in the inverter, follow the definitions and instructions below;

Bolded face Q and U are the values that should be set in the inverter:

𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.6 ∗ 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥

NOTE:

𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜑 ∗ 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 = sin(cos−1𝑃

𝑆) ∗ 𝑆𝑚𝑎𝑥 ; optimally CosPhi is set to a min/max value of -0.8/0.8 and therefore sin(cos−1 0.8) =

0.6

𝑼𝑚𝑖𝑛 =𝑈𝑚𝑖𝑛

𝑈𝑛𝑜𝑚⁄ ; 𝑼𝑚𝑎𝑥 =

𝑈𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑈𝑛𝑜𝑚⁄ (between 0 and 200)

𝑸(𝑼𝑚𝑖𝑛) = −𝑄(𝑈𝑚𝑖𝑛)

𝑄𝑛𝑜𝑚⁄ ; 𝑸(𝑼𝑚𝑎𝑥) = −

𝑄(𝑈𝑚𝑎𝑥)𝑄𝑛𝑜𝑚⁄

NOTE:

SolarEdge inverters use the convention of inductive power being positive and capacitive power being negative; since most

graphs are supplied with the opposite convention, i.e. with Q decreasing as U increases, the minus sign was inserted into

the above definitions. When supplied with a graph where Q increases as U increases, ignore the minus sign.

Set the 6 points that create the linear Q(U) graph to the following:

P0 Umin Q(Umin)

P1 Umin Q(Umin)

P2 Umin Q(Umin)

P3 Umax Q(Umax)

P4 Umax Q(Umax)

P5 Umax Q(Umax)

NOTE:

If the graph comprizes several linear sections, use points 1-4 for the Q(U) values of the break points in the graph.

NOTE:

Do not enter identical Q(Umin) or Q(Umax) values for different U points.

𝑑𝑄 = −[𝑄(𝑈, 𝑃 = 𝑃𝑛𝑜𝑚) − 𝑄(𝑈, 𝑃 = 0)]

See above note regarding the minus sign.

Set the 6 points that create the linear Q(P) graph to the following:

P0 0 0

P1 0 0

P2 0 0

P3 100 dQ/Qmax

P4 100 dQ/Qmax

P5 100 dQ/Qmax

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Example

The following Q(U,P) graph has been provided by the utility:

The inverter being configured is SE10k, which has a maximum AC power of 10kVA. Following the above steps result

in the following values:

𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 0.6 ∗ 10 = 6𝑘𝑉𝐴𝑅

𝑼𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 90%;𝑼𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 100%

[if U is provided in Volts, divide by Unom to get the percentage value]

𝑸(𝑼𝑚𝑖𝑛) = −100%; 𝑸(𝑼𝑚𝑎𝑥) = 20% [if Q is provided in kVAR, divide by Qnom to obtain the percentage value]

Set the 6 points that create the Q(U) graph to the following:

P0 90 -100

P1 90 -100

P2 90 -100

P3 100 20

P4 100 20

P5 100 20

𝑑𝑄 = −[40 − (−20)] = −60%

In this case dQ is already normalized by Qmax. Therefore, the 6 points that create the Q(P) graph should be the

following:

P0 0 0

P1 0 0

P2 0 0

P3 100 -60

P4 100 -60

P5 100 -60

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

85 90 95 100 105 110 115

Q/Q

no

m [

%]

U/Unom [%]

P=Pnom

P=0

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Appendix B – How to Identify the Inverter’s CPU Version

Once the inverter is connected to the AC grid, the CPU version can be verified by pressing the inverter LCD button

several times until the ID Status window appears:

I D : # # # # # # # # # #

D S P 1 / 2 : x . x x x x / x . x x x x

C P U : 0 0 0 2 . 7 x x

C o u n t r y : X X X X X

Most inverters with previous CPU versions can be upgraded to the new version:

- All three phase inverters can be upgraded

- All single phase inverters with DSP2 version 1.027 and above can be upgraded.

For upgrade files please contact support@solaredge.com.

For upgrade instructions, refer to the following document:

http://www.solaredge.com/sites/default/files/application-note-upgrading-solaredge-inverter-fw.pdf.

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Appendix C – CosPhi Calculation

CosPhi (cos Ø) is a measurement used in Power Factor computing, representing the ratio of the real power flowing to

the load divided by the apparent power in the circuit, and whose value ranges between -1 and +1. Phi (Ø) represents

the angular measurement between the real power and the apparent power vectors, in which:

P = active power, measured in kW, and is computed as the expression: cos Ø

Q = reactive power, measured in VAr (volt-ampere reactive)

S = apparent power, measured in VA (volt amperes)